Graded Examinations in Spoken English

Topic Form Grade 4

Title of topic:

The information on this form must be presented to the examiner during the exam.
Please note that some Topic Forms might include the candidate number and name pre-printed on
the form, and others may not. Both types of form are acceptable.
 Grade 4 A worked example
Introduction What is Trinity GESE Grade 4?
The Language of Grade 4
Topic
Conversation

Trinity GESE exams are 12

exams of spoken 11
communication in English 10 Advanced stage
9
a 1-1 discussion in
English only with an 8
English speaking examiner 7 Intermediate stage
from the UK 6
5 10 minutes
12 Grades, divided into 2 phases
4 stages 4 Elementary stage
Topic = 50%
3
Conversation = 50%
2
1 Initial stage
1 Next>

Notes: You will see that this short presentation contains an Introduction, notes about the language of Grade 4, information about the Topic the first
TASK and the Conversation - the second Task.
The slide also gives you a summary of what you already know about the Trinity exams 12 Grades, divided into 4 Stages with 3 GRADES per STAGE.
Grade 4 lasts 10 minutes, it has 2 phases or Tasks (the Topic and Conversation) and each TASK is worth 50% of the marks.

1
 Grade 4 Language What
Introduction must you say?
The Language of Grade 4
Topic
Conversation (Taken from the GESE syllabus)
Functions Lexis
Talking about past events Vocabulary specific to the topic area
Talking about future plans and Vocabulary specific to the subject areas
intentions Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often,
Expressing simple comparisons never
Expressing likes and dislikes Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every
Describing manner and frequency day, once a week
Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last
Grammar night
Past simple tense of regular and
common irregular verbs Phonology
Going to future The correct pronunciation of vocabulary
Adverbs of manner and frequency specific to the topic and subject areas
Comparatives and superlatives of Appropriate weak forms in connected speech
adjectives Three different ways of pronouncing ed past
Link word but tense endings, e.g. walked, wanted
2 Next>

Notes: These notes are taken directly from the GESE syllabus and you can see what Functions, Grammar, Lexis and Phonology.
It is important to note that the student is responsible for demonstrating that s/he can use all or many of these elements it is NOT the examiners job to
drag them out of the student.
If your student is entering for the right Grade, he or she should be able to use these language items with ease and confidence. S/he should build them into
the Topic and Conversation phases naturally and appropriately.
 Grade 4 Selecting your Topic
Introduction
The Language of What can you talk about?
Grade 4
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation

YOU can choose your Topic

Choose something personal that YOU are interested in

Choose a Topic which helps you to use the Language of Grade 4
 Do NOT choose the same Topic as your friends or class

3 Next>

Notes: Here you see a longer menu of what the presentation will include. Essentially this slide is to tell you that your students can choose any Topic they
wish, important is that it is of interest to them personally and which they can handle confidently within the language they have and within the language of
Grade 4.
It is not helpful to choose a class Topic it may be easier for the teacher to help prepare students, but it will not be personal, it may force the student to
learn the topic and take away the naturalness and enthusiasm for it.
Inevitably some Topics will be repeated in a class as many are interested in sports for example, or holidays this is not a problem as long the Topic is the
individual students choice!
 Grade 4 Planning your Topic
Introduction
The Language of Your Topic must contain
Grade 4 4 points that you want
Topic to discuss. (5 points for
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic Grade 5, 6 points for
Questions about your Grade 6)
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation

Watch an exam: You are going

to see a Topic presentation.
What is the Topic about?
What are the students 4 points?

4 Next>

Notes: Reminds you that that the Topic must contain 4 main points for discussion. (Grades 5 and 6 require 5 and 6 points respectively)
At this point it is useful to watch the sample exam on the DVD what Topic has the student chosen? More specifically, what are the 4 main points the
student has chosen to talk about? Jot them down if you want.
 Grade 4 Planning your Topic
Introduction
The Language of Imagine that your topic is
Grade 4
Topic International Travelling
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark Organise your ideas into 4 different parts:
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation My journey next summer
What I like and dont like
The difference between home and other
countries
Past journeys where and how often

5 Next>

Notes: When your students have chosen their Topic, your job as teacher is to help them organise their Topic into a coherent presentation. You can help
them do this by asking them to write down their 4 main points for discussion. These points will be used by the examiner to talk to your student about their
Topic.
So, lets suppose the Topic is International Travelling. On the slide you can see some suggestions for the 4 main points. Of course your students are free to
choose any four points they wish to talk about.
 Grade 4 Language of the Grade
Introduction Think about the Language of Grade
The Language of
4. What can you say about YOUR
Grade 4
Topic
experience of International
Selecting your Topic Travelling using the Language of
Planning your Topic Grade 4?
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing Likes and dislikes: _______________________________
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark Past simple tense of regular and common irregular verbs:
More practice Going to future: _______________________________________
On the exam day
Conversation Adverbs of manner and frequency: ______________________

Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives: ____________________________________

Link word but: _______________________________________________________________
Vocabulary specific to the topic area: ___________________________________________
Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often, never: _____________________________
Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every day, once a week: _____________________
Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last night: ______________________________
6 Next>

Notes: One of the dangers of Topic preparation is that teachers and students FORGET they have to use the language of the Grade they are being examined at. So its essential
to go back to the language items we saw on Slide 3 to remind ourselves of how we can express our ideas on International Travel, using the language of the Grade.
You will usually find that it is not difficult to match the discussion points with some of the language items listed for the Grade. They come to mind naturally from the subject
matter. Dont think that you have to use ALL of the items but practise using as many as helpful to have an interesting conversation on the subject. Remember, the student
has to demonstrate that s/he can use the language of the Grade.
 Grade 4 Practice - Language
Introduction of Grade 4
The Language of
Grade 4
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic

Questions about your Topic Past simple tense of regular and common irregular
Practising your Topic verbs
Timing
Materials for your Topic Going to future
Getting a good mark
More practice Adverbs of manner and frequency
On the exam day
Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives
Conversation
Likes and dislikes
Watch the exam Link word but
again: Does the Vocabulary specific to the topic area
student use the
Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often, never
Language of Grade
Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every day,
4? once a week

7 Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last night Next>

Notes: Using the same video sample, you may wish to check exactly which language items the student actually uses. Does he demonstrate that he can use the
language of the Grade or does he avoid using the language of the Grade? Is he well prepared for the Topic and the Grade or not? The notes that accompany
the DVD will tell you what the Trinity panel thought.
 Grade 4 Using the Language of Grade 4
Introduction
The Language of Grade
Your Topic points are important because they
4
Topic help you to use the Language of Grade 4
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your Topic Look at the 4 Topic points.
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark Likes and dislikes _____________________________________
More practice
Conversation Past simple tense of regular and common irregular verbs __

Next summer, Im going to visit..

Going to future _____________________________________

Adverbs of manner and frequency ______________________

My journey next summer Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives _____________

Link word but ______________________________________

What I like and dont like
Vocabulary specific to the topic area ____________________

The difference between home and Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often, never _____
other countries Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every day, once a week

8
Past journeys where and how often Next>
Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last night ______

Notes: In Slide 8 you can see how the discussion points could be linked with some of the language of the Grade. The discussion point My
journey next summer fits very nicely with the going to future. Equally, What I like and dont like is the perfect vehicle for Likes and dislikes
and so on!
 Grade 4 Questions
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 The examiner is going to ask you questions about
Topic your Topic, AND YOU ask the examiner 1 question.
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic What questions can the examiner ask about the
Practising your Topic
Timing Topic points which use the Language of Grade 4?
Materials for your Topic Likes and dislikes _____________________________________
Getting a good mark
More practice Past simple tense of regular and common irregular verbs __
Conversation Where are you going to visit next year?
Going to future _____________________________________

Adverbs of manner and frequency ______________________

My journey next summer Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives _____________

Link word but ______________________________________

What I like and dont like
Vocabulary specific to the topic area ____________________

The difference between home and Adverbs of frequency, e.g. sometimes, often, never _____
other countries Adverbial phrases of frequency, e.g. every day, once a week
Past journeys where and how often Next>
9 Expressions of past time, e.g. yesterday, last night ______

Notes: The Topic is not only about the student talking the examiner will ask questions about the Topic, again using the language of Grade 4. In this Task the student also has
to ask the EXAMINER a question related to his or her Topic.
When your students have written their discussion points, you can have some fun ANTICIPATING the sort of questions the examiners might ask about the discussion points.
Where are you going to visit next year? is perhaps an obvious question the examiner can ask after hearing about My journey next summer it is also a good question for the
STUDENT to ask the EXAMINER.
It doesnt take too much imagination to come up with Anticipated questions from the examiner or questions that the student can keep ready to ask the examiner!
 Grade 4 Practising your Topic
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 Your Trinity exam is an interactive discussion.
Topic You and the examiner will discuss your topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
together and you must be flexible. Trinity
Questions about your recommends that you NEVER write and
Topic
Practising your Topic
memorise a script.
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
We suggest you make a Mind Map:
Map
More practice
Conversation
Toda
y I
abou am
t my going
Script: year
I hav holidays. o talk
eah
t
beac
h in olida Every
coun the y on
try so the
a v . For me uth of th
er y th
There intere e beac e
sti h is
peop are game ng plac
le to s to p e
sunb ta lay a .
athe lk to and nd
The or s w you c
b
beac est acti in the se
h is
im
vity
an
a.
 It makes you nervous
m y fr p laying o n th
ie
beac nds. Eve games w
h vo ry ye it
e  It gives you bad pronunciation
and lleyba ar I p h
I
sports always e or padd
ll lay  You are less flexible Next>
10 . It d njoy le
win. oesn p
t ma laying
tter if
I
Notes: Unfortunately some teachers allow, even encourage their students to WRITE OUT their Topic. This is usually disastrous because students get nervous trying to remember
the next bit of the Topic, or they forget what comes next and dry up, they speak too quickly as a recitation and their pronunciation goes out of the window and they are less
flexible when the examiner asks them a question.
In fact many dont even HEAR the examiners question because they are too busy thinking about the next piece of recitation!
If the Topic is personal and of interest to the student, s/he will not need to learn it by heart it is part of them, their experience and it will sound more natural and sincere so
please do not allow your students either to write their Topics down or to learn by heart!
A mind map is something different this allows students to create and develop ideas. You can see the outline of a mind map in Slide 10 it can be fun to see how one idea leads to
another but not too many ideas remember, because this phase of the exam only lasts 5 mins maximum!
 Grade 4 Example Mind Maps 1
Introduction Language
The Language of
Grade 4
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your Questions
Topic I can ask
Practising your Topic
Timing My
Materials for your Topic Opinions
Getting a good mark Questions
More practice Questions the
On the exam day examiner can
Conversation ask
My Topic
Lexis
Language
Grammar of Grade
My Personal
4
Experience
Functions Pronunciation Past
Present
Useful
phrases
11 Next>

Notes: Here you see an example mind map which gives an overview of the elements for the Task. This is probably something more
for the teacher than the student and it helps to summarise the Task and all the elements which make up the Task.
 Grade 4 Example Mind Maps 2
Introduction Themes
The Language of
Grade 4 The example below is for a Topic of International
Topic
Selecting your Topic
travel. You can organise 4 main ideas for your topic
Planning your Topic into different groups or themes. It is a good idea to
Questions about your think of 3 or 4 sentences for each point.
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark My journey What I like
More practice next summer and dont
On the exam day like
Conversation
Pronunciation International
travel
Useful
phrases
The difference Past journeys:
between home and Where and how
Main ideas other countries often

12 Next>

Notes: This shows a similar mind map with the 4 points as a separate node or circle in the diagram. For each of the nodes or points you will want to consider the
main ideas connected with the point, the appropriate language to use to express those ideas remember to use the language of the grade.
For each of the main points encourage your students to prepare 3 or 4 sentences to talk about the point. It is not the examiners job to develop the topic for the
student have something to say about the point and give the examiner something interesting to pick up on and ask your student about as a result of what they
have said. The examiner is not there to work hard on the Topic for the student!
 Grade 4 Timing
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 It is important to think about
Topic how much information you
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic present to the examiner. Think
Questions about your about the following questions:
Topic
Practising your Topic How long is the Topic phase?
Timing
Materials for your Topic 5 minutes MAXIMUM
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
How much must I prepare to say?
Conversation Prepare to present at least 2 minutes of material on
your Topic

What happens in the rest of the time?

The rest of the 3 minutes is a discussion between you
and the examiner. This includes entering the room,
saying hello
hello, introducing yourself and discussing your
Topic points.
13 Next>

Notes: Many students get disappointed, even angry because the examiner didnt let them finish their Topic. There are 5 mins MAXIMUM for this Task which
consists of the student talking about their main points and for the examiner to ask questions and make comments about those points. It is not about the
student giving a monologue for 5 mins. So the golden rule is DONT let your students prepare too much material and become frustrated they cannot get
through it all. Equally, prepare enough material to talk at least 2 mins of material on the Topic.
The rest of the time is taken up with the discussion between the examiner and the student on the Topic as well as the time it takes to enter the room, greet
the examiner, introduce yourself and discussing the Topic points.
 Grade 4 Materials for your Topic
Introduction
The Language of You must bring with you a Topic Form with your 4
Grade 4 points that you want to talk about.
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic You can also bring object with you to help you talk
Questions about your about your Topic.
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic

Photographs (4 maximum)
Getting a good mark
Souvenirs
More practice
On the exam day
Pictures
Conversation
Small objects: e.g. sports shirt, a book, etc
You must NOT bring:
 Animals
 A big photo album
 Music
Anything that takes time to
organise (you only have 5 minutes!) Next>
14

Notes: For Grades 4, 5, and 6 students complete a Topic Form BEFORE they come into the exam. These are the 4 points in the case of Grade 4 that the student wants to talk about and which we
have looked at in the previous slides.
If there is no Topic Form, the examiner cannot conduct this part of the examination.
It helps the student also to bring something into the exam room related to their Topic. It can help the conversation, it can add a new dimension to the discussion and also remind the student what
s/he wants to say about the Topic.
Bearing in mind that this phase of the exam is only 5 mins, not too much material should be brought into the room. Examples are: Photographs max 4, Souvenirs of a place, Small objects such as
a book, a postcard, sports shirt, a medal or small trophy, etc
Students must NOT bring: Live animals, A big photo album with lots of photos which they cannot possibly show in the time available and which does not encourage the student to use the language
Music, Anything that takes time to organise such as a computer, or a powerpoint presentation.
Remember you only have 5 mins!!
 Grade 4 Your Topic Form
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4
Topic You must bring with you a Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic Form with your 4 points that you
Questions about your want to talk about.
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation Important!

You discuss 4 points, but the EXAMINER chooses

the sequence.

For example, the examiner can ask about 3,2,4,1

or 4,1,3,2 etc NOT 1,2,3,4
15 Next>

Notes: Students MUST bring their Topic Forms completed with the 4 main points (5 or 6 for Grades 5 and 6) because these are the points that the examiner will
choose AT RANDOM to talk about. Remember what we said about students NOT learning their Topics by heart. By taking the points at random, we encourage
students to talk more naturally about their Topic and not turn it into a memory exercise.
You can see a small facsimile of the Topic Form on this slide and in your pack there is a full size version which you can photocopy for your students preparing for
Grades 4, 5, and 6.
 Grade 4 Getting a good mark
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 Do you want a good mark?
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic The good student...
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic

Says hello, how are, etc
Timing
Speaks confidently and naturally about the Topic
Materials for your Topic
Understands and uses the Language of Grade 4
Getting a good mark
More practice
Knows the vocabulary of the Topic and its pronunciation
On the exam day
Listens to the examiner, answer the questions
Conversation
Gives FULL answers, in FULL sentences, not just yes
and no

Asks the examiner a question about the Topic

Interacts with the examiner, conversationally

Responds when the examiner changes from the Topic to
Conversation phases

16 Next>

Notes: Any exam is not just about passing by the skin of your teeth but passing as well as you can. In Trinity exams, there are 3 levels of passing a Pass, a Merit and a DISTINCTION.
The key to getting a good mark of course is to be able to handle the language of the Grade and carry out the Task according to what we have talked about so far and what you have seen on DVD.
On Slide 16 you can see a list of things that students can do to squeeze as many marks out of the exam as possible.
Lets look at one or two because they really do make a difference. The exam starts from the moment the student enters the room and includes the greeting and leave-taking. This all adds to the
general impression and a confident opening to the exam puts the student in the right frame of mind.
Discourage your students from saying things like Im a little nervous most students are and it will only serve to make the student more nervous.
There is no reason why the student cant talk confidently about his or her Topic if it is personal, interesting, prepared and if the student is entering at the right Grade.
Because the Topic is prepared in advance and because it is the students own choice it is reasonable to expect some knowledge of specialised vocabulary without it being too technical and the
correct pronunciation.
Although there is not a separate listening phase until Grades 10, 11, and 12 listening is still being tested by the students response to what the examiner says or comments on in the course of the
conversation.
Train your students to LISTEN as well as speak TRAIN them to pick up not only on examiners QUESTIONS but on their comments too which the student can respond to appropriately. Trinity
exams are NOT about question/answer/question/answer/question/answer!!!
Where appropriate give fuller answers than Yes and NO. Beware FULL SENTENCES where they are not natural, but conversation is more than YES, No, it is about explanation, elaboration,
depending on the Grade the student is taking.
Trinity exams are about INTERACTION all the TASKS at every level are an INTERACTION with the examiner where each party not only talks but LISTENS to the other person and interacts with
what they say!
 Grade 4
Introduction More practice :
The Language of
Grade 4
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation

17 Next>

You may want to take some of your students Topic choices in class and workshop them
Get them to play with the mind maps to develop interesting ideas about their Topic and then decide on their 4 main Discussion Points for their Topic Form.
In pairs or groups they can practise presenting their Topics (not learned by heart, remember) with one as the student and the others playing the role of the examiner to help them ANTICIPATE
possible questions and comments from the examiner. This can be lots of fun and you will be preparing your students for MORE than a Trinity exam!
Dont forget to encourage them to think of a question or questions to ask the examiner about the Topic. Encourage them to ask that question naturally and at the appropriate point in the conversation
and NOT WAIT for the examiner to invite a question from them. Many students, having talked about their Topic, forget to ask a question, the examiner invites them to ask a question about the Topic
and in desperation ask something like How old are you, where do you come from etc which most times has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TOPIC!
There is nothing wrong with the question but it should relate to the Topic!
 Grade 4 On the exam day
Introduction
The Language of On the exam day, you must
Grade 4
Topic think about 5 things:
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
1. Have you completed your Topic Form?
Practising your Topic
Timing 2. Do you want to bring any materials with you?
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice 3. What time is your exam? Arrive at least 15 minutes
On the exam day BEFORE.
Conversation
4. Before you enter the room, you must bring your Topic
Form, and your teacher gives you a Report Form 2 pieces
of paper. Give both to the examiner.

5. Relax! Trinity exams are very friendly! Enjoy the

experience!
18 End>

Notes: Finally, its exam day and there are 5 things for your students to think about and for you to check on:
Have they completed their Topic Forms and have they got the Topic Form with them? Why not do a photocopy of their completed forms a few days before just in case?
Do they want to bring any object with them into the exam room remind them the day before its too late to remember it on the day and too stressful to run back home for it!
Do they know what time their exam is make sure they arrive 15 mins before the allotted time.
Make sure the Topic Form and the individual Report Forms are ready for each student to take into the exam room. Give them to the examiner
Its easy to say relax but most students come out smiling from a Trinity exam if they are well prepared, in at the right level, know what the TASKS involve, are prepared to LISTEN and
SPEAK and talk spontaneously with the examiner, they should enjoy the experience. Of course accuracy is important but 50% of the assessment is also about the ability to interact so
talk as much as is appropriate and enjoy the experience.
Show the DVD to your students so they can see that they can do it too!
 Grade 4 Conversation
Introduction
The Language of What is it?
Grade 4
Topic
Selecting your Topic A discussion of 2 subject areas
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
listed for the Grade in the
Topic Syllabus
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic Max time available 5 mins
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
Conversation
Look for the section on the Grade pages:
In the Conversation phase
phase
1. You will see the performance criteria by
which students are assessed
2. There is a list of subject areas for the
conversation
19 End>

Notes: Again you will need to look closely at the GESE syllabus for each Grade. In this worked example we are looking again at Grade 4 specifically, but the FORMAT of the exam is generally the same
for Grades 5 and 6. There is a small but important additional element for Grades 5 and 6 which I will mention later.
In the syllabus you will see a list of subject areas under the section:
in the Conversation phase
The examiner will choose any 2 conversation subjects at random to talk about in the last 5 mins of the exam. Listed also are the performance criteria for this phase such as:

Show understanding of the examiner by responding appropriately to questions

 Grade 4 Conversation
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 Is this the same as the Topic?
Topic
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic Definitely NOT!
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice
On the exam day
1. Students must be prepared to deal with ANY
Conversation
two of the subject areas
2. The choice of the 2 subjects is up to the
examiner
3. Students do not need to prepare topic-like
presentations about these subject areas

20 End>

Notes: It is important to stress again that your students must be prepared to deal with ANY of the subject areas the examiner chooses to talk about.
Students do not need to prepare these subjects as they would their Topic but in your classes it is helpful to talk about the subjects with your students, listen to their opinions and experiences, likes
and dislikes associated with the subjects, and develop and practise vocabulary and structure around the subjects so that they feel comfortable with and have something to say about ANY of them.
In other words it is not another Topic preparation. It is possible that there is some overlap between what the student choose for the Topic and the more general categories of the subject areas e.g
Student Topic football conversation Topic sports but the conversation in this case would explore the general subject area.
Equally, the examiner might decide to choose a subject area entirely unrelated to what the student presented in his or her Topic.
 Grade 4 Conversation
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 Why cant students choose which
Topic subjects they want to talk
Selecting your Topic about?
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark
More practice 1. The Topic has allowed free choice
On the exam day
Conversation 2. This phase tests more spontaneous,
unprepared conversation although students
have the benefit of knowing the subjects in
advance
3. The subject areas are similar to those found in
course books at this level

21 End>

Notes: Why cant students choose what they want to talk about? After all some of them know nothing about or are not at all interested in shops for example.
Firstly, this phase tests more spontaneous and unprepared conversation although students have the benefit of knowing the subjects in advance
In your class preparations you will have developed these subjects
The subjects are general enough that everyone will have knowledge and experience of the subjects to some degree. They are subjects that frequently occur in course books at this level.
If a student has absolutely no interest in, say, shopping, then they can say so and it is a legitimate use of language on the subject. Shops on the other hand, like them or not, everyone has some
knowledge and experience of and therefore something to say about them!
 Grade 4 Conversation
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 Will the examiner use any
Topic special materials?
Selecting your Topic
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark 1. The examiner may use everyday objects or
More practice
On the exam day pictures to facilitate the conversation
Conversation
2. The conversation is intended to be relaxed and
genuine and not finding out about what the
student knows
3. The candidate is responsibility for using the
language of the grade to demonstrate his/her
range and quality of the language
22 End>

Notes: The examiner MAY use objects or pictures to aid the conversation. These are meant merely to stimulate and help the discussion and are not of the kind found in some examinations such as
Tell me about my picture We do not use this kind of artificial device!
As far as possible in the exam situation, in the time available and with the language available to the student, the conversation is meant to be a relaxed, enjoyable exchange of information, opinions
and ideas. It is not about finding out what the student KNOWS about the subject.
As with all TASKS in Trinity examinations, the student is responsible for using language appropriate to the subject, the situation and the grade to demonstrate his or her range and quality of
language.
USE THE SYLLABUS to check what language items will be covered. They are the same as those for the Topic phase.
 Grade 4 Conversation
Introduction
The Language of
Grade 4 What special preparation can I
Topic do with my students to help
Selecting your Topic them
Planning your Topic
Questions about your
Topic
Practising your Topic
Timing
Materials for your Topic
Getting a good mark 1. Again, refer to the functions, grammar, lexis
More practice
On the exam day and phonology listed on the pages for the grade
Conversation
2. Talk with your students about the subject areas
to develop e.g. vocabulary
3. Similar to the work done in the Topic, make
links where possible between the language
items and the subject areas

23 End>

Notes: As we have said all along, the best way you can help your students prepare for the exams is to ensure there are no surprises waiting for them on exam day! They should know what TASKS they
are required to do and be able to handle the functions, grammar, lexis and phonology set out on the syllabus pages for the Grade.
So that students are completely at ease with the subjects, you will have taken ALL the subjects listed and worked with your students on ideas, concepts, vocabulary and structure which the subjects
lend themselves to.
You can have lots of fun and useful practice with your students by talking about the subjects and developing ways of talking about them which use the language of the Grade. Do not FORCE the
language but encourage them to use the language of the Grade naturally.
 Grade 4 Conversation
Some examples of linking the target
language with the subject areas

Functions: I went to Greece for my holidays

last summer
Talking about past events
I go camping in France every year
Talking about future plans
I like Chinese food very much but I
Expressing simple dont like curry
comparisons
I am going to work in my parents
Expressing likes and shop during the holidays
dislikes
I think skiing is more exciting than
Describing manner and snowboarding
frequency
The shops in Barcelona are more
24 crowded than in my small town. End>
Notes: Here you see some simple examples of linking the target language for the grade with various subject areas. You and your students can develop them as much as you want.
 Grade 4 Conversation Dont forget to
watch the DVD
What are the traps in the samples and show
Conversation Phase? your students!

1. None set by Trinity but if students are not prepared to talk about ANY 2 of the listed
subjects that the examiner chooses, it will disadvantage them
2. If students think thank goodness I have got the Topic out of the way, now I can really
relax and the rest is not so important
3. The teacher forgets to prepare the students for the subject area
4. Students and teacher must be aware that the student is responsible for using the
language of the Grade
5. (at Grade 5 and Grade 6 the format of the Task is the same, the subject areas and
assessment requirements change AND..
6. At Grade 5 the student must ask the examiner at least ONE question in this phase
related to the subject
7. At Grade 6 the student must ask the examiner at least TWO questions in this phase
related to the subjects

25 End>
Notes from Slide 25

Believe it or not, Trinity exams are not about catching students out or finding out what they dont know!
We work on a positive credit model and not a points deducted model for not knowing something or getting something wrong.
However, students and teachers from time to time do themselves no favours by not following the advice, guidance and requirements set
out in the syllabus.
Examiners can sense with some students that as soon as they have got their Topic off their chests they relax and think its just a few
more minutes of idle chat with the examiner.
WRONG there is still 50% of the exam to do and still 50% of the marks to be earned!
Some students seem surprised that the examiner is talking about subjects from the syllabus almost disbelief and where did that come
from? expression on their faces.
Clearly the teacher has not prepared them for this TASK.
Some students may have done their best to demonstrate the language of the Grade in their Topic but now they have relaxed, their
language level slips and does not come up to the Grade did they simply learn their Topic by heart one wonders and now they have
come unstuck??
The examiner will encourage and support the students efforts but he or she is responsible for demonstrating the language and the
examiner is not going to drag it out of them!
At Grade 4 the examiner will be pleased if the student asks a relevant question about either or both of the subject areas.
At Grade 5 it is a REQUIREMENT that the student asks at least ONE question related to ONE of the subjects.

At Grade 6 it is a REQUIREMENT that the student asks at least TWO questions related to the subjects, ideally at least ONE to each of the
two subject areas.
Finally, you can pull all your preparations together by looking again at the relevant Grade on the DVD. The samples here are NOT model
answers nor are they always the best students but they are indicative of the procedures of the exams and typical of the student
performances at the level.
You can use the DVD and the notes to reassure your students that they can be successful in the exam too with the benefit of seeing
others who have done this already, your students can go on and be EVEN BETTER.
That would make everyone smile, surely??